Ahh, yes, but we up here on Queensland, being the forward thinkers as we are well know to be, have found our own solution to the problem. We will be migrating to follow our US and European friends to drive on the right-hand-side of the road. But, as the huge cost of the change process has been calculated to be far more than even an affluent state such as Queensland can afford, our labour Premier, Mr Beatle, has devised a staged master migration plan.

Commencing on 1st April 2005, as the most competent and experienced drivers, "professional" such as taxi, truck (lorry) and bus drivers will be required to operate their vehicles on the right-hand-side of the road. This will include maneuvering around round-abouts anti-clockwise and turning right at red traffic lights after stopping. These drivers have been selected for the first phase because it is unlikely the Main Roads Department will have the signs, road markings and traffic lights established for right-hand-side driving by the start date, and we all know that these drivers do not require any assistance from such signs, markings and signals to operate their vehicles.

Following an evaluation period of 3 months at the commencement of the initial 9 month trial period, the second phase of the migration will commence on 1st April 2006. In this phase, all two-wheeled vehicles including motorised and unpowered vehicles as well as horses and mules will commence using the right-hand-side of the roads. This category of vehicles has been selected as the most likely to success in the transition process since they can be quickly moved to the opposite side of the road if the driver/rider forgets and suddenly realises they are on the incorrect side of the road. Other modes of transport that fit loosely into this category, such as rollerblades, tricycles and wheelchairs may be operated on either side of the road at the driver/riders discretion during this phase of the migration process.

It is expected that a much shorter evaluation period will be required at the completion of this second phase, so it will continue until 28th Feb 2007. During this evaluation period, where the success of the change process will be measured, all driving will revert to the left-hand-side of the road, except for taxis carrying fare paying passengers and government operated public busses between the hours of 6am and 9am on weekdays.

The remaining Queensland drivers of passenger cars will transition during the third and final phase. However, it is expected that the change will require considerable practice for some older members of the driving public, so their introduction to the RHS driving will be rostered. Drivers of vehicles with even numbered license plates will use the RHS on Mondays and Wednesdays. Odd numbered plated vehicles will use the RHS on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Vehicles with number plates commencing with a vowel, regardless of the number being even of odd, will use the RHS on Fridays and Saturdays. Sundays is reserved for vehicles with personalised number plates and those regular plates with a number that commences with a vowel (such as Eight).

This rostered process will continue for the first 90 days of the third phase (from 1st April 2007 until 29th June 2007). After that time, all such vehicles will be required to use the right-hand-side of the road. This will mark the completion of the traffic migration process. It should be noted that farm machinery and equipment is not specifically included in any of the migration phases. Such vehicles are currently routinely operated on both sides of the road so it was considered unnecessary to specify a particular change-over time.

Mr Beatle is working closely with the Premier of NSW, Mr Brrmmm, to determine how to interface the different road systems at the state borders. So far, Mr Brrmmm has resisted Mr Beatle's suggestion that the state boarder be moved south to Newcastle, at which point the interconnection of the two road systems would appear seamless as the traffic merged at the freeway extremity.

So driving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley should not be a problem for you. Just make sure you don't get into the wrong side of the car and sit in the passenger seat wondering who stole the steering wheel.